Donald Alexander Barnes Mills

August 8, 2006, age 69, beloved father, grandfather, husband and friend died. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am Thursday August 10th at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama with Rev. John F. Autry officiating.

Donald Mills was born in Atlanta, Georgia on May 1, 1937.

He was son of the late Elizabeth Barnes Mills and Donald Mills of Selma.

May 1955 he graduated from Indian Springs School.

June 1959 Donald received his B.S. Civil Engineering.

While at the University of Alabama he was President of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and many other honorary organizations.

Donald later attended University of Florida, Gainesville in August 1960 and earned M. S. Sanitary Engineering. After college Mr. Mills worked for Hercules Power Company for several years, and then returned to Selma to form a partnership with his father, who was also a civil engineer.

In 1975, when his father retired, Don moved to Montgomery and joined his college friend George Goodwyn to found Goodwyn and Mills Consulting Engineers in 1975.

In 1983, G& M Incorporated and expanded to include Steve Cawood, adding the Cawood name to the company.

In 2001, Mr. Mills retired as President of GMC and now resides on Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach.

In 1988, Donald was selected as a Fellow of the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Alabama, he has also served as the State Membership Chairman for the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He has served as the Co-Chairman of the Engineering Division of the Alabama Natural Gas Association.

He is a life member of the American Water Works Association and a registered PE in several southeastern states.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Warren Mills, Daughters Eve Alexander Mills, Jane Mills Rodgers; grand-daughter, Elizabeth Eve Hartzog and grand-son, Lee Mills Rodgers; Stepchildren; Tommy Sommerville, Lisa Johnson, William Sommerville, Cannon Sommerville; seven step grand-children.

Pallbearers will be George Goodwyn, Stan Graves, Dr. Russell Goodloe, Steve Cawood, John Starr, and Phil Williamson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.

Jo Harris

Jo Harris of Selma, Al. passed away at the age of 99 at a hospital in Montgomery, Al.

She was born in Plantersville on June 2, 1907 to Calley Smedley Harris and John Fletcher Harris.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Bryon Harris, Fetcher Harris and Horace Harris, sisters, Mammie Warren and Annie Lou Walker. Jo is survived by several nieces, Edna Eiland of Selma, Grace Casey (Lamar) of Hayneville, AL., and Ouida H. Ballard of Atlanta, Ga. and one nephew, Robert F. Harris of Stanton, AL., a special great-niece, Nan Ballard of Atlanta, Ga., and a number of great and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was a graduate of Dallas County High School and the University of Alabama. After graduation she taught school in several cities of Alabama. She later was employed by the Ration Board of Selma. In 1947 she moved to Arlington, VA. Where she was employed by the Civil Service for 33 years. After retiring in 1984 she returned to Selma to be with her family.

She loved her traveling experiences abroad and especially the countryside of England where she had many friends.

Rev. Charles Walker and Rev. George M. Sedberry will conduct a private graveside service at Plantersville Christian Cemetery in Plantersville, AL. Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Mary Lou Sweeney Sunday School Class of the Church Street United Methodist Church, where she was a member.

Memorials may be sent to the Selma-Dallas County Public Library or to your favorite charity.

James Walter Edwards Sr.

James Walter Edwards, Sr., age 78, born October 9, 1927, died August 7, 2006 in Orange Beach, Alabama.

He was a native of Selma, Alabama and former resident of Grove Hill, Alabama and was presently residing in Orange Beach, Alabama. He was retired as a hardware salesman for Tisser Hardware Supply Co. in Selma, Alabama, retiring in 1993. He was a founding member of the Island Fellowship Baptist Church in Orange Beach, Alabama where he served as chairman of the deacons and was a Sunday School teacher. He was active in the Orange Beach community regularly assisting others in need. He enjoyed gardening and southern horticulture, tending to a fruit orchard.

Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Nichols Edwards of Orange Beach, Alabama; two sons, James W. (Ann) Edwards, Jr. of Anniston, Alabama and Richard R. Edwards of Orange Beach, Alabama; two daughters, Kay E. Clarke of Birmingham, Alabama and Vikki E. Wiggins of Mobile, Alabama; three brothers, John Ray Edwards of Montgomery, Alabama, Houston Edwards and Mike Edwards of Selma; one sister, Mary Ruth Holley of Selma; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5 – 8 p.m. at Lathan Funeral Home in Grove Hill, Alabama.

Services will be Friday morning from at 11 a.m. in the Grove Hill Baptist Church. The body will lie in state for one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Grove Hill Cemetery in Grove Hill, Alabama. Arrangements by Lathan Funeral Home in Grove Hill.

Rita Faye Martin

Rita Faye Martin, age 55, of Ellenwood, GA passed away Monday, August 7, 2006.

Mrs. Martin taught school in Clayton County, GA for over 23 years.

She is survived by her husband, Bob Martin; sisters, Anne Stone, Bettye Bambarger, both of Tuscaloosa, Rosemary Trawick of Selma, Ellen Sysk of Greensboro, brothers, Rocky Stone of Russellville, Guy Stone, Jr. of Hutchinson, MN, nieces and nephews, Raynie Bambarger, Casey Trawick, Torrey Trawick, Will Stone, Mary Cay McIlrath, Ella Stone, and her beloved pets, Atticus, Boo, and Dill.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday August 11, 2006 at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home, Selma, AL with Rev Russell Morrow officiating.